Kerr’s fantastic four: Matildas gun dominates on the Champions League stage

Sam Kerr has returned to form with a bang, breaking her scoring drought in style with four goals as Chelsea dominated Vllaznia 8-0 in the Women’s Champions League.

Prior to kick-off against the Albanian champions, Kerr had found the back of the net only once in 10 outings for club and country - a huge dry spell by her own lofty standards.

Denmark international Pernille Harder also nabbed a hat-trick for the Blues, with Katerina Svitkova the other name on the scoresheet.

Matildas skipper Kerr gave Chelsea the lead after 10 minutes, added a second 17 minutes later, and thought she had her hat-trick before half-time but was flagged offside in a tight decision. VAR is not used in the Women’s Champions League.

When her third of the game did arrive, it was also mired in debate. A corner was floated in by Guro Reiten on 59 minutes, with Kerr and teammate Magdalena Eriksson both claiming the final touch.

Kerr slotted home a fourth a minute later before being substituted, with Chelsea adding three more goals in her absence.

“We played really well from the first minute,” Kerr said after the match. “It’s nice to be back at home, scoring and winning games.”

“That’s my first Champions League hat-trick for Chelsea, so I’m really proud of that. It’s really exciting.”

Elsewhere, Slavia Prague lost 2-0 at home to Wolfsburg, Real Madrid and PSG drew 0-0 and St Polten were beaten 4-3 at home by Roma.

Meanwhile, Kerr’s Matildas teammates Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso both starred for English giants Manchester City in their 6-0 drubbing of Blackburn Rovers in the Women’s Super League.

Raso opened the scoring in the 16th minute, while Fowler added two in the 40th and 69th minutes.

In men’s Champions League action, Liverpool advanced to the knockout stage with three quick goals before and after half-time to beat Ajax 3-0.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring with a neat finish in the 42nd minute, Darwin Nunez doubled the lead with a header four minutes into the second half, and Harvey Elliott made it 3-0 with a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the 52nd as the Reds awoke from a slow start to sweep aside Ajax at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk thought it was a good night’s work.

“In the end we won 3-0, progressed to the next round and kept a clean sheet,” he told Dutch television station RTL7.

Chelsea fans fell head over heels for Sam Kerr all over again after her latest display of domination.Credit: Getty Images

The hosts squandered two good chances in the first half before Liverpool seized the initiative. Steven Berghuis hit the post from close range in only the third minute after being set free by a short pass from Brian Brobbey. The young striker, who has been included in Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal’s provisional World Cup squad, then set up Dusan Tadic in the 36th but the Ajax captain fired straight at Trent Alexander-Arnold.

From then on, it was all Liverpool. A pass with the outside of his right foot by Jordan Henderson found Salah in space between Daley Blind and Calvin Bassey, and the Egypt striker flicked the ball past Remko Pasveer for his sixth goal of the Champions League campaign.

“Sensational pass from Hendo, then Mo’s finishing is outstanding,” said Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp.

Nunez, back from a muscle injury, should have doubled the lead shortly before half-time, but his shot hit the post. He made no mistake after the break when he held off defender Jorge Sanchez and headed home a corner.

Salah turned provider for Elliott, who ran onto the Egyptian’s pass and fired a powerful shot past Pasveer to complete the scoring.

In other Champions League results, FC Porto proved far too strong for Club Brugge, winning 4-0; Inter Milan won by the same scoreline against Czech side Plzen; Frankfurt outlasted Marseille 2-1; and Napoli proved too strong for Rangers, winning 3-0.

Barcelona was eliminated from the Champions League even before enduring yet another 3-0 beating by Bayern Munich.

Atletico Madrid also went out following an extraordinary sequence around a penalty awarded by video review after the final whistle of its 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

Atletico’s spot kick was saved before a frantic scramble in the goalmouth still could not bring the winning goal the Spanish club needed to prevent Porto advancing thanks to its 4-0 win earlier at group leader, Brugge.

Two Spanish powers, who were part of the failed Super League launch last year, will now miss out on the round of 16 of Europe’s top competition.

In more stoppage-time drama with video review, Tottenham thought they had won Group D when Harry Kane shot the ball into Sporting Lisbon’s net with seconds left in a game tied at 1-1.

A long VAR check ruled Kane was offside, a furious Tottenham coach Antonio Conte was shown a red card, and the most finely balanced group goes to the final round next week with all four teams having a chance to advance.

- AAP, AP

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